Nashville Frist Gala enchants, dazzles with Southern garden party theme

As guests ascended the stairs to the Turner Garden for this year's Frist Gala, stone animal statues swathed in spring flowers greeted them.

Everyone paused for a quick peek at the dinner tent, which resembled a Southern garden party, before heading inside for one last look "Southern/Modern," the first exhibition to present a comprehensive survey of paintings and works on paper created in the American South from 1913 to 1955.

The social office took cues from the landscapes on display when designing the event. Attendees enjoyed signature cocktails and tasty bites in the lobby, which felt more like a loggia with its serene green table linens and boxwood topiaries. The theme continued in the dinner tent with green garden benches, more animal statues and luscious florals by Knestrick by Design.

Frist Art Museum Executive Director and CEO Seth Feman gave a short welcome before introducing Sai Clayton, the first Susan H. Edwards Curatorial Fellow and Nashville-based visual artist and curator.

Guests were seemingly captivated by Clayton, who had frequented the institution as a child. During her fellowship, she was introduced to a variety of museum careers, and she expressed gratitude to the staff for all they taught her. Her experiences comes full circle as she guest co-curates an upcoming show at the Frist, planned in 2026.

Co-chairs Lake Eakin and Christine Weller thanked everyone who had a part in bringing this year’s gala to life and for helping them surpass all of their goals before everyone enjoyed dinner from Kristen Winston Catering.

The Southern inspired menu featured spring burrata salad and filet of beef with sweet corn and field pea succotash. Conversations continued long after the last bites of banana pudding were taken.

The Frist Art Museum welcomes thousands of visitors each year, including many schoolchildren, for exhibitions like "Southern/Modern."

Children go to be inspired, to learn, to teach, to escape and to dream. The Frist Gala is the museum’s largest fundraiser and proceeds support the important work of bringing high-quality exhibitions to Middle Tennessee and providing related educational programs and community outreach activities.